A rare Formula 1 test at the Fuji circuit in Japan will be held by Haas in August as part of its technical partnership with Toyota.
The Haas-Toyota alliance was announced late last year and its primary short-term benefit has been the creation of Haas’s first ever private testing programme.
Most teams have taken advantage of the rules around Testing of Previous Cars (commonly referred to as TPC testing) in recent years but Haas only started running an old car this year because it lacked the funding and human resource to have a test team in place.
But as Toyota wants to use its Haas alliance to develop its own drivers as well as engineers and mechanics, it has facilitated extensive TPC running with the 2023 Haas.
Ritomo Miyata made his F1 testing debut at Jerez in January as part of the new programme, and Toyota’s World Endurance Championship team principal Kamui Kobayashi drove at Paul Ricard earlier this summer.
Kobayashi’s fellow ex-F1 driver and Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe vice chairman Kazuki Nakajima, Haas team owner Gene Haas and team boss Ayao Komatsu joined 2025 race drivers Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman driving at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend.
Now Haas has announced an even more ambitious test at Toyota-owned Fuji Speedway in August.
Haas will run a two-day test at the former grand prix venue on August 6 and August 7, with test and reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa driving on day one before Toyota’s reigning double Super Formula and Super GT champion Sho Tsuboi makes his F1 debut on the second day.
The test, which continues Toyota’s desire to have its best Japanese drivers gain F1 experience and will also be attended by Toyota personnel, will be open to the public on both days.
We’re heading to Japan and the famed Fuji Speedway as part of our TPC program 🇯🇵
— MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) July 14, 2025
Next month, Ryō Hirakawa and fellow TOYOTA GAZOO Racing driver Sho Tsuboi, making his F1 debut, will drive the VF-23 for our first-ever Testing of Previous Cars in Japan 🙌#HaasF1 #F1 | @en_toyota pic.twitter.com/jL3bKztYKN
Masaya Kaji, director of TGR Global Motorsport, said the three pillars of the Haas technical partnership from Toyota’s side was improving “people, pipeline and product”.
“This TPC is part of our efforts related to ‘people’, which focuses on developing human resources,” he said.
“I believe that Sho’s challenge, given his experience as a champion of the Super Formula series, will not only contribute to his own skill development but also provide valuable motivation for the other TGR drivers.
“Additionally, Toyota Motor Corporation's mechanics and engineers will be present, making this a valuable learning opportunity for them as well.
Experiencing the technologies and skills required on the world's highest stage of F1, up close, will surely be a significant experience for their growth.”
Komatsu said it is “quite special” to run at Fuji, where the Haas-Toyota deal was publicly announced last October, and called it “equally satisfying” to give a driver of Tsuboi’s pedigree a chance to test an F1 car.
“The fact that we’re running the VF-23 and the test is open to fans, that’s a great thing too,” said Komatsu.
“We know the passion Japanese fans have for Formula 1, so to get a second run in the country there this year after April’s Japanese Grand Prix is fantastic.”
Hirakawa, who drove the 2023 Haas at Silverstone in April, has also driven the 2025 car as he took part in two FP1 sessions this year in Bahrain and Spain and is due to run again in Mexico and Abu Dhabi.
The last F1 race to take place at Fuji was in 2008, won by Fernando Alonso at Renault.
